but I have been told I cannot self study as I need to prove 100 hours of studying
All US Schools for EASA Licences will be ATOs.
All ATOs will have "approved" theoretical knowledge courses, and these
courses require that 100 hours of study be proved.
RFs in the UK (still the majority of schools) do not have "approved" TK
courses and so the mandatory 100 hours of study does not apply.
It is certainly still possible for someone to take, and pass, all the TK exams
in the UK solely through self study.
NB: All RFs will have to become ATOs by April 2015.